Spring preview of softball team

With spring sports coming up fast softball will be the first Union sports team to take the field on Feb. 22 in Queensburg, N.Y. The team had a disappointing finish last season when they were unable to defend their league title in the playoffs.

But looking forward, Junior Kristin Schmidt says that the “team is fired up for this season and hungry for redemption.”

It seems that the team is exceptionally excited to make the lineup better than ever.

As sophomore Allyson Staats notes, “We have awesome freshmen additions this year as well as a great returning lineup. With the talent and attitude that we have as a team, we have a chance to do something really special this year.”

Their journey will start in Clermont, Fla. where, according to Staats, the team will be spending spring break training and playing a series of 12 games against “many great teams” in the National Training Center tournament “that will better prepare [them] for the conference season.”

Staats is also looking forward to the upcoming indoor game on Feb. 22 because she thinks it will “take the tension off of our first game in Florida.” However, tension doesn’t seem to be a common theme among the Dutchwomen, who, according to Staats, have enough jokes on the team “to write a novel,” which she thinks will bring the team “closer than last year…increase[ing] the amount of laughs we share [and] also the amount of success.” Schmidt also sees the team dynamic as an invaluable contribution to the ultimate goal of “bringing the trophy back to the U.”

The softball team shares an intangible love for the game as well as expectations of a successful season. Win or lose, the Dutchwomen always have a drive for victory and a love of spontaneous, mid-practice dance parties.

This should be a thrilling season for the team so be sure to come out and support your Dutchwomen as they fight for a great season!